OJEN Classroom Resources
OJEN has over 200 resources available for use in classrooms, community agencies and justice education programs. All OJEN resources are available for free in English or French. Resources are for general educational use and are not legal advice. Anyone dealing with legal issues should consult a lawyer for confidential, specific legal advice. OJEN retains the copyright over all OJEN resources and materials cannot be modified without prior written permission. There are four ways to search for a resource:
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In Brief: The Jurisdiction of Ontario Courts
This handout provides an overview of the structure of the courts in Ontario, including the jurisdictions of the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
In Brief: The Courts of Ontario
This handout provides an overview of the structure of the courts in Ontario, including the jurisdictions of the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
In Brief: Structure of the Courts in Canada
This handout provides an overview of the structures of the court system in Canada, including descriptions of the Supreme Court of Canada, the provincial and territorial courts, and the federal courts.
In Brief: Roles in the Criminal Justice System
This handout provides an overview of the various roles involved in the criminal justice system, including Crown attorney, criminal defence counsel, duty counsel, court clerk, court artist, court reporter, surety and trial coordinator, among others.
Timeline of Events for the Steven Truscott Case
On September 30, 1959, Steven Truscott was found guilty of the murder of Lynne Harper. After years of struggling to clear his name, in 2007, the Court of Appeal for Ontario unanimously held that the conviction of Mr. Truscott was a miscarriage of justice and must be quashed. This resource includes a timeline of events […]
Top Five 2014
Each year at OJEN’s Toronto Summer Law Institute, a judge from the Court of Appeal for Ontario identifies five cases that are of significance in the educational setting. This summary, based on these comments and observations, is appropriate for discussion and debate in the classroom setting. These summaries of important legal cases were presented by […]
Law and the Ontario Curriculum: Secondary Version (Grades 9 to 12)
Resource provides curriculum links to over 40 courses (grades 9 through 12). These grade-specific guides provide law-related curriculum expectations and suggested discussion points to engage students. Although intended for use by volunteers from the justice sector, teachers may wish to refer to this resource while planning for a Courtrooms & Classrooms visit.
Law and the Ontario Curriculum: Elementary Version (Kindergarten to Grade 8)
Integrating law and justice topics throughout the elementary curriculum. These grade-specific guides provide law-related curriculum expectations and suggested discussion points to engage students. Although intended for use by volunteers from the justice sector, teachers may wish to refer to this resource while planning for a Courtrooms & Classrooms visit.
An American Visitor to A Canadian Court
Despite this common history and despite the superficial similarity, there are differences between the judicial systems of the two nations. These differences may be reflected in the symbols displayed within the courtroom, the organization of the courts and the legal professions, the procedure of the court and the origin and nature of the laws being […]
Constitutional Law Mock Appeal Scenario: Dufour v Canada (Attorney General)
This resource, originally from the OJEN Spring 2014 Charter Chalenge, deals with the constitutionality of physician-assisted suicide. The applicant, Tobin Dufour, has been found Not Criminally Responsible for the murder of his father, and is in custody in a mental health facility. Overwhelmed by guilt, Mr. Dufour seeks doctor assistance in terminating his own life, […]